Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/92

 76 Charles Henry Carey borough return to the fort, so we are now left with our Indian pilot. Tues. 28. Our men are out early, taking our pilot with them, sounding to find out the channel, leaving their buoys as guides in different place, after making a very careful examination, they return and wait some time for a favorable state of the tide, in this they are particular. Anchor is hoisted and we start, but within an hour we are on a sand bar, as the tide is still ebbing, we are under the necessity of waiting some time, our vessel has hit this bar sidewise, and as the tide continues to ebb, our vessel cants over sidewise very much. Some fears are entertained she may tip over. While in this condition Mr Roberts returns from Vancouver with a Mr Johnson 6 who has come to aid us up the river ; this man is said to be the best in conducting a vessel up the river of any man in the region. As the tide turns and rises, our ves- sel is uprighted. In due time she floats. Mr Johnson takes the helm, and although it is near night, we pass on some miles most pleasantly and finally cast anchor for the night near Pillar Rock. Wed. 29. Our wind up the river very light, the river is very high and at ebb tide the current down is very rapid and strong, our progress is very slow and after sailing ten or fifteen miles we cast anchor and remain at anchor the remainder of the day. Thurs. 30. Six months today since we sailed from the Port of New York. In the night for a short period our wind was fair. Sails were spread and we passed up perhaps fifteen miles. Our wind is very light and prog- ress slow. We are very dependent on this very variable and uncertain element. We have a very distant view of a volcano in action, throwing up clouds of smoke. For some days we have seen Mount Helen [St. Helens] which is covered perpetually with snow; this volcano as it ap- 6 Probably William Johnson, naval veteran of the war of 1812, one of the participants in the organization of the Provisional Government, and one of the first settlers within the present limits of the city of Portland.